The Seville City Council will greenlight the building permit for the Muslim cultural centre and mosque in Polígono Sur next week. The Mezquita Foundation of Seville describes it as a "small step" and calls for caution.
The vice president and spokesperson for the Mezquita Foundation of Seville, Jalid Nieto, has cautiously assessed the announcement from the Seville City Council that it will grant the building permit for the Muslim cultural centre and mosque project in Polígono Sur next week. In statements to EFE, Nieto described the decision as "a small step" and emphasised that they are taking the news with "caution" and "contained euphoria".
"We appreciate that the process has reached a successful conclusion," Nieto noted, highlighting that this step demonstrates that "the law is above ideologies". The foundation's spokesperson insisted that they do not want to celebrate prematurely: "I am not getting my hopes up," he stated, reminding that the road ahead is still long.
The license, which will be voted on at the Urban Planning Management meeting next week, has been supported by the relevant technical reports, according to the City Council. The project, which has generated political controversy, faces opposition from Vox, which has already announced its vote against it.
Nieto emphasised that the Mezquita Foundation of Seville is not a political entity and respects all legally represented parties. "We are open to sitting down with any party to explain the details of the project," he added, in an attempt to defuse the criticisms that have arisen around the initiative.
The cultural centre will occupy around 6,000 square metres in Polígono Sur, one of the most disadvantaged areas of the capital of Seville. The complex will include facilities for cultural activities, a mosque, a minaret, and parking. The planned investment amounts to €15 million, and the promoters hope that construction can begin early next year, with a two-year execution period from the laying of the first stone.
The news of the license has reignited the debate over the construction of the mosque. Vox had requested additional reports and a public consultation, warning of a supposed risk of "Islamisation" of the neighbourhoods, something that the foundation has always denied. Nieto has described the City Council's approval as "a victory for all Sevillians, because it shows that we live in a state governed by law".
For the residents of Polígono Sur, the arrival of this cultural centre could provide a boost to the area, although the project has generated divided opinions. The foundation assures that the centre will be open to all citizens and that its goal is to promote intercultural dialogue. "There is still much work to be done, but we take it on with all the enthusiasm and composure," Nieto concluded.
The next step will be the vote at the Urban Planning Management, scheduled for next week. If the license is confirmed, the foundation will be able to initiate the procedures for construction, which it hopes to complete within two years. Meanwhile, caution marks the tone of promoters who do not want to take anything for granted.
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